Catatonia

Biography

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome most commonly seen in people with underlying mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. People with catatonia exhibit abnormal movement and behaviors that vary from person to person, and which may fluctuate in intensity within a single episode. People with catatonia appear withdrawn, with limited interaction with the outside world and difficulty processing information. They may be nearly motionless for days on end or perform repetitive, purposeless movements. People may exhibit very different sets of behaviors and still be diagnosed with catatonia. Treatment with benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy is most effective and leads to remission of symptoms in most cases. There are different subtypes of catatonia, which represent groups of symptoms that commonly occur together. These include stuporous/akinetic catatonia, excited catatonia, malignant catatonia, and periodic catatonia. Catatonia has historically been related to schizophrenia, but is most often seen in mood disorders. It is now known that catatonic symptoms are nonspecific and may occur in other mental, neurological, and medical conditions. The prognosis of catatonia is typically good, with complete remission in some patients; however, outcomes vary depending on the underlying disorder.

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